The Congolese military announced Sunday the downing of a Rwandan military drone over the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The incident occurred Saturday in the Minembwe Highlands of South Kivu, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions.
Congolese officials described the intrusion as a clear-cut act of aggression and a violation of sovereign national airspace.
Interim army spokesperson Lt. Colonel Mak Hazukay stated the drone was engaged in an offensive mission against military positions.
The military further alleged the drone targeted local civilian populations in an area currently under high operational vigilance.
Kinshasa accused Rwandan forces of collaborating with M23 rebels to undermine recent peace commitments established in Switzerland.
Rwanda has not yet issued a formal response to the specific allegations regarding the downed unmanned aerial vehicle.
The United Nations and various Western nations continue to accuse Rwanda of backing M23, a claim Kigali denies.
Fighting between government forces and rebel groups has intensified recently, leaving the security situation in the east worrying.
A rebel spokesperson countered that government coalition forces conducted simultaneous bombings of densely populated areas in the same region.
The metallic remains of the surveillance craft now sit as a silent testament to the fracturing diplomatic relations.